By December 21 (1944) the German forces had surrounded Bastogne, which was defended by the 101st Airborne Division and Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division.

Conditions inside the perimeter were tough—most of the medical supplies and medical personnel had been captured. Food was scarce, and ammunition was so low that artillery crews were forbidden to fire on advancing Germans unless there was a large, heavy concentration of them. Despite determined German attacks, however, the perimeter held. The German Commander sent this request to the American commander in Bastogne.

"To the USA Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne: The fortune of war is changing. This time strong German armored units have encircled the USA forces in and near Bastogne ... There is only one possibility to save the encircled USA troops from total annihilation; that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town ... If this proposal is rejected, one German Artillery Corps and six heavy AA Battalions are ready to annihilate USA troops ... all the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known American humanity..." -The German Commander

When General Anthony McAuliffe was awakened by a German invitation to surrender, he gave a reply of annoyance that has been variously reported and was probably unprintable. There is no disagreement, however, as to what he wrote on the paper delivered to the Germans: "NUTS!"

Baker's surrender demand is a bit longer than his German predecessor's - it makes 79 recommendations, the essence of which is as follows.

Form a committee of fear states to "help" Iraq

Baker wants to put Iraq in a hen house full of foxes (WSJ, $, my ellipsis):

...all the states bordering Iraq (that's the Saudis, Iran, Kuwait, Syria, Jordan and Turkey); the key regional states, including Egypt and the Gulf States (but presumably not Israel); the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (that's Russia, China, France, UK and US); the European Union; and, of course, Iraq itself. Other countries—for instance, Germany, Japan and South Korea—that might be willing to contribute to resolving political, diplomatic, and security problems affecting Iraq could also become members.

This coalition of tyrants, terrorists and appeasers will make quick work of the Iraqi democrats.

Let the Mullahs build their nukes

The issue of Iran's nuclear programs should continue to be dealt with by the United Nations Security Council and its five permanent members (i.e., the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China) plus Germany.

Cut And Run

The United States must make it clear to the Iraqi government that the United States could carry out its plans, including planned redeployments, even if Iraq does not implement its planned changes. America's other security needs and the future of our military cannot be made hostage to the actions or inactions of the Iraqi government.

We should seek to complete the training and equipping mission by the first quarter of 2008...

Thus al qaeda just has to keep blowing up Iraqi women and kids through Q1 2008 and the US will walk. That'll show them.

Screw the Kurds

Although Shiites, the blue-eyed, matriarchal Kurds are quite different from Arabs. Saddam forced them from their holy city of Kirkuk, they've repossessed it and a referendum is committed that will probably formalize its return to Kurdistan. So of course:

A referendum on the future of Kirkuk (as required by the Iraqi Constitution before the end of 2007) would be explosive and should be delayed.

That way the US gets to undermine its only steadfast ally in Iraq and violate the constitution all those purple-fingered folks risked their lives to vote for.

Abandon The Jews

Baker proposes the Syrian fear state makes a bunch of temporary concessions and in return Israel permanently gives it an improved rocket launching zone.

In exchange for these actions and in the context of a full and secure peace agreement, the Israelis should return the Golan Heights, with a U.S. security guarantee for Israel that could include an international force on the border, including U.S. troops if requested by both parties.

It's unlikely the Israelis will be impressed - by leaving the Iraqi democracy at the mercy of a nuke armed Iranian dictatorship, Baker devalues US security guarantees for all time.